Today's Personal Finance Stories

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Gold has proven once again what a sucker's bet it can be. From a seven-year high of $390 an ounce on Feb. 5, its spot price has fallen 15 percent to less than $330. Yet U.S. economic malaise and geopolitical discord have gold bulls convinced the metal will resume its steady march higher. Today, we begin a three-day package on the outlook for gold, starting with a look at how global uncertainty is complicating short-term trading. Check out the full line-up of stories and commentary pieces, along with a Gender Gap on women's growing clout in corporate America and a Shades of Green on the economy and stock market's troubles being more mental than fundamental, in today's Personal Finance pages.

Shine on ...

Chris Pummer, Personal Finance Editor

cpummer@marketwatch.com

Commodity traders wage war on gold

New York: Trying to decide what route to take in the gold markets has become increasingly difficult for short-term investors lately, especially with everything related to the war on Iraq changing from minute to minute. See full story.

Thom Calandra: Crisis moment for gold

San Francisco: What hasn't gold done for its investors since the world changed in September 2001? See full story.

Is this a '99 gold replay or what?

Chicago: The recent sharp pullback in gold has brought back unpleasant memories of the brief, 1999 Washington Accord price rise in gold. See full story.

What bubble says about 2002 to 2012

Toronto: After the 2000-2002 bear market blew out most records for duration and damage, many pessimistic investors are either flying blind or betting on another downturn on the order of the great bear of 1929-1932. See full story.

Women edge up in business

San Francisco: Gauging women's progress in corporate America is like trying to drive through fog, which confronts and wisps by you at the same time. See full story.

War relief

San Francisco: If you administer mild shocks to a laboratory rat at random times, for no apparent reason, you'll drive the unsuspecting rodent insane. See full story.

Investors need to look ahead

Boston: Investors always hunger for one crucial bit of information: What's next? See full story.

World piece

Racine, Wis.: From their office on Main Street in this middle-American city about 80 miles north of Chicago, Wendell Perkins and several colleagues search a computer database of 1,500 non-U.S. stocks, looking for companies in countries they will never visit, run by people they will never meet. See full story.

Mortgage delinquencies decline

Washington: Lower interest rates and a slightly improving economy helped more homeowners meet their mortgage obligations in the fourth quarter. See full story.

States of work

San Francisco: Within the vast labor market that is the U.S., certain states have seen their fortunes rise or fall more than the nation as a whole. See full story.

Smoky bears

Brattleboro, Vt.: As court cases against the tobacco industry mount - including a U.S. government suit demanding a record $289 billion from five defendants -- mutual fund investors can avoid exposure to tobacco stocks through funds that practice socially responsible investment. See full story.

Marshall Loeb's Daily Tip: Keep rolling

New York: If you're a worker facing a layoff or changing jobs, it's important to make a plan for rolling over your 401(k) retirement accounts. See full story.

The Stockpickers: Value investors with an eye on growth

San Francisco: When it comes to selecting stocks, Joe Wolf's primary interest lies in a company's potential return on invested capital. See full story.

Tax Tip: Home office tax break

North Palm Beach, Fla.: Whether you are self-employed or an employee, if you use a portion of your home for business, you may be able to deduct the associated costs. See full story.

Guru's Corner: Time for easy holds

Hammond, Ind.: War in Iraq. Volatile stock prices. Shrinking investment portfolios. As an investor, are you finding it hard to sleep at night? See full story.

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